Association of alirocumab therapy with inflammatory lesions of the vocal folds: A case report

Abstract

Therapeutic monocolonal antibodies (MAbs) are a new, rapidly growing class of medications that frequently have poorly characterized side-effect profiles. We present a patient who developed inflammatory lesions of the vocal folds in temporal relation to the initiation of alirocumab. Lesions of the vocal folds represent a previously unreported adverse effect of alirocumab therapy, making it the second MAb documented with such a side effect. The potential laryngeal effects of alirocumab specifically, and of MAbs more broadly, warrant investigation. Laryngoscope, 127:1652-1654, 2017.

Psychiatric disorders associated with PCSK9 inhibitors: A real‐world, pharmacovigilance study

“…Similar to our findings, Peter et al reported dysphonia and paroxysmal loss of voice the day after the first subcutaneous injection of alirocumab (75 mg) in a 68-year-old female patient. 27 However, none of the available literature on the target and mechanism studies of alirocumab explicitly identifies the larynx as a site of toxicity. We also 28,29 and is particularly susceptible to altered upper airway anatomy and defective compensatory neuromuscular activity.…”

“…reported dysphonia and paroxysmal loss of voice the day after the first subcutaneous injection of alirocumab (75 mg) in a 68‐year‐old female patient. 27 However, none of the available literature on the target and mechanism studies of alirocumab explicitly identifies the larynx as a site of toxicity. We also found a significant association between PCSK9i use and obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome and sleep apnoea syndrome, especially obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (ROR = 31.77, n = 82), which was the most common of the AEs with the PCSK9i with the highest association.…”